After a caterpillar reaches its full growing stage, it will stop feeding and some types of caterpillars will spin a protective cocoon of silk around themselves before beginning its chrysalis stage. This cocoon stage usually takes place during the fall and it is not until the Spring that a butterfly will emerge. This picture shows you how the finished cocoon stage looks before the next cycle happens.
Inside the cocoon, a chrysalis will not move but many fascinating changes take place. The body of the caterpillar gets broken down inside the cocoon and after a few days or a couple of months, depending on the type of butterfly, its shape becomes apparent.
When the butterfly has completely changed, the outer skin of the cocoon...
... begins to separate and the adult butterfly will then break through. Its wings will be crumpled together until the butterfly pumps blood into them which makes them expand and dry enabling the butterfly to take flight. After this cycle is complete, the butterfly will fly to freedom and leave the cocoon behind.
To get a close up picture of a cocoon, visit the Victoria Butterfly Gardens on Vancouver Island in British Columbia where a variety of cocoons are displayed. There are many species of tropical butterflies soaring around you as you walk through the gardens exploring the plants, flowers and the world that a butterfly loves.
Butterfly Cocoon at Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Please make sure to see our complete collect of butterfly pictures pictures.
For butterfly enthusiasts, this picture shows how a cocoon attaches itself to a tree branch at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens on Vancouver Island, BC.
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